SR-47
Encyclopedia
The SR-47 is a modern assault rifle
based on the AR-15
family of rifles created by Knight's Armament Company
for USSOCOM
. Unlike the majority of guns based around ArmaLite
design, the SR-47 is essentially an AR-15 that fires the Soviet 7.62×39mm round from AK-47
magazines, which explains the "47" in the gun's name. The rifle was created after soldiers on long missions in Operation Enduring Freedom complained of running out of 5.56×45mm NATO
ammunition for their M4
carbines but having plenty of captured AK-47 magazines
. The SR-47 is basically an M4 that will accept standard AK-47 magazines rather than NATO STANAG
M16
/M4 mags, along with other minor modifications common to KAC's designs.
system. Originally it was going to be a drop-in series of parts to convert an M4 or M16 in the field to fire 7.62×39mm ammunition. This requirement was later changed to require the weapon to accept and feed from Kalashnikov magazines. The complexity of this task made the planners rethink this approach and the idea of a complete weapon that could still use standard SOPMOD accessories was born.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks
, SOCOM placed an open call for a 7.62×39mm rifle of basic M16 style design. This was known as the SPR-V. Three companies submitted samples: Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT), Robinson Armament, and KAC. After a series of trials, the pack was narrowed down to the RAV-02 Robinson carbine and the KAC SR-47.
The SR-47 is based on the Knight Stoner Rifle (or SR) series. Many aspects of the rifle resemble an M16, but almost all parts are upsized slightly to handle the larger 7.62x39mm cartridge. It uses standard AK magazines and the magazine well is modified to accept standard box magazines.
Only seven rifles are known to exist. Six went to USSOCOM and one was retained in the Knight Co. museum.
The rifle uses a custom barrel
manufactured by Obermeyer Barrel Co. of Wisconsin. It is machined to accept a custom Knight manufactured suppressor
.
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
based on the AR-15
AR-15
The AR-15 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed semi-automatic rifle, with a rotating-lock bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation. It is manufactured with the extensive use of aluminum alloys and synthetic materials....
family of rifles created by Knight's Armament Company
Knight's Armament Company
Knight's Armament Company is an American firearms and firearms parts manufacturer.It is owned by C. Reed Knight and based in Titusville, Florida. KAC is best known for producing the Rail Interface System and the Rail Adapter System grips for military firearms...
for USSOCOM
United States Special Operations Command
The United States Special Operations Command is the Unified Combatant Command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Commands of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense...
. Unlike the majority of guns based around ArmaLite
ArmaLite
ArmaLite is the name of a small arms engineering facility founded in the early 1950s, and once associated with the Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation. ArmaLite was formally incorporated as a subdivision of Fairchild on October 1, 1954...
design, the SR-47 is essentially an AR-15 that fires the Soviet 7.62×39mm round from AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
magazines, which explains the "47" in the gun's name. The rifle was created after soldiers on long missions in Operation Enduring Freedom complained of running out of 5.56×45mm NATO
5.56x45mm NATO
5.56×45mm NATO is a rifle cartridge developed in the United States and originally chambered in the M16 rifle. Under STANAG 4172, it is a standard cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries. It is derived from, but not identical to, the .223 Remington cartridge...
ammunition for their M4
M4 Carbine
The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.It is a gas-operated,...
carbines but having plenty of captured AK-47 magazines
Magazine (firearm)
A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearm. Magazines may be integral to the firearm or removable . The magazine functions by moving the cartridges stored in the magazine into a position where they may be loaded into the chamber by the action...
. The SR-47 is basically an M4 that will accept standard AK-47 magazines rather than NATO STANAG
STANAG
STANAG is the NATO abbreviation for Standardization Agreement, which sets up processes, procedures, terms, and conditions for common military or technical procedures or equipment between the member countries of the alliance. Each NATO state ratifies a STANAG and implements it within their own...
M16
M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
/M4 mags, along with other minor modifications common to KAC's designs.
Development
The SR-47 is an outgrowth of the Colt M4 Carbine's SOPMODSOPMOD
The Special Operations Peculiar MODification kit is an accessory system for the M4A1 carbine and FN SCAR Mk 16/17 used by USSOCOM...
system. Originally it was going to be a drop-in series of parts to convert an M4 or M16 in the field to fire 7.62×39mm ammunition. This requirement was later changed to require the weapon to accept and feed from Kalashnikov magazines. The complexity of this task made the planners rethink this approach and the idea of a complete weapon that could still use standard SOPMOD accessories was born.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, SOCOM placed an open call for a 7.62×39mm rifle of basic M16 style design. This was known as the SPR-V. Three companies submitted samples: Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT), Robinson Armament, and KAC. After a series of trials, the pack was narrowed down to the RAV-02 Robinson carbine and the KAC SR-47.
The SR-47 is based on the Knight Stoner Rifle (or SR) series. Many aspects of the rifle resemble an M16, but almost all parts are upsized slightly to handle the larger 7.62x39mm cartridge. It uses standard AK magazines and the magazine well is modified to accept standard box magazines.
Only seven rifles are known to exist. Six went to USSOCOM and one was retained in the Knight Co. museum.
The rifle uses a custom barrel
Gun barrel
A gun barrel is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion or rapid expansion of gases are released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at a high velocity....
manufactured by Obermeyer Barrel Co. of Wisconsin. It is machined to accept a custom Knight manufactured suppressor
Suppressor
A suppressor, sound suppressor, sound moderator, or silencer, is a device attached to or part of the barrel of a firearm which reduces the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon....
.